Alexander Zverev has given his verdict on the current heat rule within tennis after Jannik Sinner’s recent struggles.
Zverev is the title favourite at Roland Garros this year after world number one Sinner suffered a shock defeat in the second round after feeling unwell against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
Sinner claimed the heat was not the cause for this, but he has previously had issues with hot temperatures at the Australian Open and the Shanghai Masters last year.
The temperatures in the first week of Roland Garros this year were approaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), and Zverev has now given his verdict on whether he thinks there should be a change in the heat rules within tennis.
Alexander Zverev responds when asked if he thinks tennis should have a heat rule change
Zverev beat Jesper De Jong 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals of Roland Garros, in much cooler temperatures on day eight of the tournament.
After his straight sets win, Zverev was asked about the current rules regarding heat and whether he thinks there should be a change.
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Zverev responded by admitting he generally enjoys playing in the heat, naming the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 as the only time he has really struggled.
“It’s difficult for me to answer because I like heat. I always have,” Zverev said in his post-match press conference. “I have always felt comfortable in the heat.
“The only time I have not felt comfortable is Tokyo in the Olympics. At the moment it was a different kind of heat. We were all dying on the court!
“But overall I think there has been brutal matches, there has been very tough conditions. But those kind of matches and things would have been brutal anyway, with how long they were and how the rallies were. I don’t know, I’m not a politician. I don’t know what the rules are!”
What are the current heat rules on the ATP Tour?
There are heat rules in place at ATP Tour events and the four Grand Slam tournaments, but they are not exactly aligned.
For the ATP Tour, players are allowed to take a 10-minute cooling break after the second set when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WGBT), which factors in air temperature, humidity, wind speed and radiant heat reaches or exceeds 30.1 degrees Celsius (86.18 degrees Fahrenheit).
Play can also be suspended on the ATP Tour if the WGBT exceeds 32.2 degrees Celsius (89.96 degrees Fahrenheit).
Similar rules are also in place at Roland Garros, which would come into play for men’s singles matches between the third and fourth sets.
Despite temperatures reaching highs of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in Paris this year, it has not exceeded the WGBT temperature required to activate the heat rule.
Temperatures have significantly dropped and are expected to stay lower for the second week of Roland Garros, with even the potential of some rain.
